I recently downloaded Instacast HD on my iPad, and in while there is a lot of uncertainty from developers about how iCloud should work, I’d say the guys at Vemedio have it figured out. The key - I don’t think about it. I listen to a podcast on my iPhone, then go pick it up on my iPad. Everything is right where it should be.
A lot of developers are sort of in the dark about what they think iCloud is supposed to do, and to those guys I would tell them to look at Instacast. Granted, the waters get muddied when you start talking about user files. But for quite a lot of tasks and things you want sync across devices for, this is the simple answer. And I think this is the kind of thing that iCloud solves.
Quite a lot of apps are using Dropbox for just this sort of functionality. Due, Todo, pretty much every plain text editor - all of this is now solved more elegantly with iCloud. For apps of this type, either storing preferences and app data on Dropbox, or simple files like .txt, it’s time get with the program. Not only is iCloud easier for the user (it’s set up once - when you do the initial setup on the brand new device), it’s also faster. I have yet to notice an iCloud sync occurring. At best, it seems to take less than a second, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn it’s happening in the background.
Anyway, Instacast HD is a definite buy if you like listening to podcasts on your iPad, or if you just want to see how iCloud should work.
